Amazing 15K Y/Gold Garnet Victorian Snake Bracelet

What a wonderful snake bracelet is this gorgeous piece from the Victorian era.

What we have is a 15K gold articulated chain with graduated links that closely resembles snake skin. The chain, rounded in shape and about 3 mm wide, is attached to an utterly stunning, ornate snake head that is covered in beautiful repoussé work and embellished with a striking cushion-cut, deep red garnet on its head, and two garnet cab eyes on either side. Really fabulous workmanship! Garnet measures approx. 6 by 5 mm; eyes are about 2 mm each. Head is about 3/4" long by 3/8" across.

There may have been a locket or other jewelled item dangling from the serpent's mouth at one time; it now holds what appears to be a very pretty Georgian foiled garnet (6x3mm) . I can't be sure, but he entire piece may have been converted from a necklace, or, it may have originally been a slave bracelet (the snake head would have attached to a band or ring). There are two repairs on one end of the chain with the push-in clasp that has left a few centimetres of the chain stiff. You can see it in the main photo where the chain fits into the clasp. Not really a problem--it actually helps guide the clasp into the locking mechanism better than if it were articulated. Other than that, the bracelet is in good shape and ready to wear.

The bracelet is 6&3/4" long, and the head plus garnet drop hangs about 1". Weight: 7.9 grams.